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Only three weeks have passed since my arrival in Riyadh, together with my wife Cristiana, and we are already fully immersed in the vibrant Saudi atmosphere, which we were able to experience first-hand on the occasion of the Kingdom’s 94th National Day last week. We are thrilled, therefore, to be here and to have the pleasure — not only the honor and the duty — to report back to Italy the remarkable changes Saudi Arabia has been undergoing in recent years under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Tuesday’s opening of Sirha Arabia 2024, a leading international food service exhibition, provides the opportunity to reflect on the importance of the agrifood industry for our two countries. In Italy, this vital industry is not considered a mere issue of trading goods as commodities; it is one of the standout industries under the “Made in Italy” banner, contributing significantly to our growth and exports, as well as preserving the vitality of our rural communities and the beauty of our rural landscapes.
Italy’s well-known excellence in the sector has enabled us to hold a substantial share of the global market for several products, as well as their related machinery. This reflects the quality and variety of Italian products. In fact, Italy has the highest number of certified food and drink products in the EU at almost 900, more than 100 ahead of the second-ranked country.
The dynamism of Italy’s agrifood sector underpins the development of new entrepreneurial ventures and agritech startups. There are more than 340 startups active in the agrifood technology sector, a market that received investments totaling €167 million ($186 million) in 2023, up from €152 million in 2022. Italy excels in adopting innovative technological solutions, such as robotics. In light of the importance that Saudi Arabia also attaches to this sector, which combines tradition and innovation, it is high time that we deepened and widened our partnership.
The strength of the Italian agrifood sector lies not only in the expertise and exceptional quality of the food manufacturing companies, but also in the presence of the necessary upstream supply chains. Italian production of primary agricultural goods is internationally recognized as a guarantee of quality. In order to achieve this, the agrifood sector is also supported by an internationally recognized and structured food packaging supply chain and, most importantly, by the food processing machinery sector, one of the hidden gems of Italian manufacturing. Italy is one of the largest exporters worldwide of such machinery, with a value of €4 billion.
In light of the importance Saudi Arabia also attaches to the agrifood sector, it is high time that we deepened and widened our partnership.
Carlo Baldocci
Let us keep in mind what visionary Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti, founder of the food marketplace chain Eataly, used to say: “We need to deal with agriculture in order to achieve quality food. Just as it is necessary to deal with human feelings if you want to arrive at quality behaviors. Here, too, it is a question of supply chain.”
Supporting the agrifood industry means also supporting local communities, national traditions and rural landscapes. This is also the core activity of the Italian-based international movement known as “slow food,” which has a long-standing partnership with Saudi Arabia. This partnership is vital in supporting AlUla to preserve its magnificent biodiversity, traditional products and culinary heritage, while asserting itself as a truly global tourist destination. The participation of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission in Terra Madre, the annual international slow food gathering held in the Italian city of Turin last weekend, confirms that these are essential topics for the development and identities of our two countries.
The potential to further strengthen the bilateral relationship in this key sector is also confirmed by the significant Italian presence at Sirha Arabia 2024. Let us work together to take up the challenge to bring our two countries closer together, and therefore stronger, in the agrifood sector. We look forward to cooperating with our Saudi counterparts in joint initiatives to promote our traditional ingredients and recipes. This “farm to fork” strategy, together with its safe and secure supply chains, has to be at the center of the next stage in our strategic partnership agenda.
• Carlo Baldocci is Italy’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.